NC Family Staff | February 21, 2023 | SHARE: 
Since the Dobbs decision last year, which overturned Roe v. Wade and declared that abortion was not a constitutional right, many states have enacted laws to protect life at the point of conception or when a fetal heartbeat is detected (around 6 weeks’ gestation). Currently, abortion is legal in North Carolina up to 20 weeks, and later for “medical emergencies.” Because of this disparity with many of our neighboring states, North Carolina has become a destination state for abortion, and it’s time to change that!
A proposal is being discussed in the N.C. General Assembly that would protect life at the point a heartbeat is detected. Based on state abortion statistics from 2020, the last year official statistics are available, NC Right to Life estimates this could save as many as 25,000 or more unborn babies a year.
In addition to the thousands of unborn lives that would be saved through a Heartbeat Act, this initiative would also seek to provide care, support, and resources to the thousands of mothers and families that would experience unplanned or crisis pregnancies. As a result, we are also seeking to support these women and children through the challenges they face. These measures would include:
Other proposals, like a bill to limit abortion at 12 weeks, are being discussed but would save only a fraction of the lives a Heartbeat Act would. As the chart below indicates, a Heartbeat Act could save the lives of over 25,000 unborn babies, while a 12 week bill could save close to 5,000, and a 15 week bill could save just over 4,000.
These are not just numbers; they are human lives!
